Amanda Howard
If you have even the slightest interest in health, fitness, weight loss, and proper nutrition, you will have heard of the term “keto” at least once in your lifetime. In layman’s terms, it’s simply the nickname given to the increasingly popular ketogenic diet.
Simply put, the central tenet of the ketogenic diet is to effectively cut out all sources of carbohydrates. In the keto diet, carbohydrate intake is replaced by fat, theoretically in order for the body to enter a state of ketosis. In this state, the body will convert fat into energy in the place of carbohydrates.
The keto diet is used primarily by people who aim to drop some weight as well as blood sugar levels and is thought to promote better health in general.
The diet itself is highly restrictive – par for the course – but there is a body of evidence that supports the claims its proponents make. This is what makes it a popular dieting choice for weight watchers.
But it’s not as simple…
It is not just about replacing each and every carbohydrate source with wanton consumption of full-cream dairy and fatty cuts of pork and processed meats.
Keto diets require a lot of discipline, dedication, and planning if they are to be done the proper way. While the thought of being able to snack on as much fat and dairy as you want is a tantalizing prospect for most, failure to plan can mean you’re not doing it right.
Fortunately, there is a kitchen appliance that makes keto dieting an easier proposition for most of us who don’t have the time to prepare meals in advance. It’s a multi-use appliance that can play the role of a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, and steamer (among others), all in a convenient, easy-to-use device. Just check this guide to see how they compare to other machines – pretty darn good!
Now, it must be noted that cutting carbs entirely out of your diet isn’t always the best approach to losing weight for just anyone and everyone. However, if you’ve consulted with a nutritionist, or have found a taste of keto diet success on your own, you can ramp up your keto strategy with the ever so useful Instant Pot.
Here are some tips you can employ to make meal prep a breeze.
1. Do Your Meal Prep with the Instant Pot
One of the most important things you can do to stick to your keto commitment is to prep your meals. And it’s also one of the hardest and time-consuming things you can do, especially if you prepare your meals alone.
The Instant Pot is a time-saving godsend allowing you to cook meals faster than conventional cookers (slow ones, to boot), and help you get great cooking results without having to wait hours and hours on end as you would with a slow cooker. Plus, cooking meats with one produces the same delicious results. What’s not to love?
2. Keep a Close Eye on Dairy Products
Keto dieters rejoice – many Instant Pots throw in a fantastic yogurt-making attachment as part of the device. That’s always a great deal, right? However, a word of caution: Instant Pots don’t always get cream- and cheese-based sauces right the first time, every time.
That’s no fault on the Instant Pot, however. It’s simply the nature of dairy products to curdle or boil when heated, making cheeses ooze liquid and solidify.
Here’s the key: anytime you use dairy products for a cheese-based or cream-based recipe, make sure to add it only after pressure cooking is finished (instead of throwing it in before or during it). This will ensure that you’ll get an evenly creamy meal that isn’t all saturated with liquid from the dairy.
3. Don’t Go Too Heavy On the Oil
One thing keto dieters take solace in their quest for ketosis is being able to enjoy delicious food without having to worry too much about fat. But be careful not to overdo it. Adding too much oil or fat in the Keto Instant Pot without the right amount of water will not have it come to pressure the right way. Don’t use over 1/4 cup of fat or oil in your recipes to make sure that you get the pressure cooking done right.
